Springless self-latching hinge

ABSTRACT

A springless self-latching hinge includes a pair of hinge leaves pivotally connected by a hinge pin. One leaf has a hinge knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles the pin to form a recessed bearing sleeve having a cam engaging edge. The other member has at least one hinge knuckle terminating at a hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve and at least one laterally extending, resilient spring leaf cooperating with a cam block disposed between the leaf and the recessed bearing sleeve to exert a force on the cam engaging edge for releaseably maintaining said hinge closed.

nited States Patent [191 Stanshury, Jr. et a1.

[11]. 3,822,440 [451 Ju1y9, 1974 1 SPRINGLESS SELF-LATCHING HINGE [75] Inventors: Benjamin H. Stansbury, Jr., Beverly Hills; Frank A. Holmes, Buena Park, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Jaybee Manufacturing Corporation,

Los Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed:

. Apr. 12,1972

[2: Appl. No.: 243,191

521U.s.c|, 16/142,16/180 [51] men ..E05dll/08 5s FieldofSearch 16/142, 139, 180

[56] I. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 2,872,697 2/1959 Hizza,Jr. 16/142 3,381,332

7/1968 Jekila'et a1 16/142 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flam & Flam [57] ABSTRACT A springless self-latching hinge includes a pair of hinge leaves pivotally connected by a hinge pin. One leaf has a hinge knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles the pin to form a recessed bearing sleeve having a cam engaging edge. The other member has at least one hinge knuckle terminating at a hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve and at least one laterally extending, resilient spring-leaf cooperating with a cam block disposed between the leaf and the recessed bearing sleeve to exert a force on the cam engaging edge for releaseably maintaining said hinge closed."

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTED JUL 91914 SHEEI 2 BF 2 E IUJ EIU IJU 1 SPRINGLESS SELF-LATCHING HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION doors and the like. Such hinges include a force providing mechanism which maintains the cabinet door closed without the need for a separate latch. Thus use of self-latching hinges does away with the cost of the latch hardware itself,v and eliminatesthe even greater labor expense associated with installation ,of the latch.

Various self-latching hinge constructions are known in the prior art. In general, a spring biased roller or wedge element incorporated in one hinge leaf presses v pivotally connected by a hinge pin. One leaf has a hinge.

knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles the pin to form a recessed bearing sleeve having a cam engaging edge. The second hinge member includes at least one hinge knuckle terminating at a hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve. This member also includes at least one resilient spring leaf struck laterally and cooperating with a cam block disposed between the leaf and the recessed bearing sleeve to exert onthe recessed edge a force which releasably maintains the hinge closed. Both cabinet and butt or ments are disclosed.

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein against a notched hinge pin bearing sleeve on the other leaf. Thus as the hinge members are rotated toward the door-closing position, the roller or wedge is biased against the bearing sleeve notch edge to force the hinge closed. Some effort is required to open the hinge against this biasing force. I

In most prior art self-latching hinges, the roller or wedge biasing force is provided by a separate spring element mounted to one hinge leaf. Assembly is difficult, and the hinge leaves must be formed of relatively thick metal towithstand the substantial spring force. For a cabinet hinge, the spring force typically is on the order of 600 psi, requiring fabrication from steel having a typical thickness of between about 0.060 and 0.075 inches.

Simplicity of assembly and reduction of metal thickness thus are two benefits expected of a springless selflatching hinge. However, no such hinge of satisfactory design has been available in the past, In the old US. Pat. No. 588,642 to Hoffman, one hingesection has a spring which bears against a cam formed from the knuckle of the other hinge section. The cam is constructed with a gradually decreasing bearing surface which results in minimum spring-pressure when the door is open and maximum when the door is closed.

Another construction, shown in the US. Pat. ;No. 2,872,697 to Hizsa, Jr., utilizes a separate leaf spring mounted with one hinge leaf and having an arcuate brake section'which exerts friction force against the pin barrel of the other hinge leaf. The force is constant regardless of hinge angle, and tends to maintain the cabinet door at the selected angular position. The US. Pat. No. 2,571,430 to Durup'shows another type of hinge wherein interlocking spring leaves are struck from'the hinge members. These leaves do not exert a force on a bearing sleeve or cam, but rather engage each other to SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objective is achieved by providing a springless self-latching hinge having a pair of leaves entation.

like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures. These drawings are to scale.

FIG. l'is a front viewzof a springless] self latching hinge in accordance with the present invention, shown in a typical cabinet installation.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge ofFIG. 1. 4

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the same hinge, shown partly opened. I

' FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, along the line of '4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the cabinet hinge in'closed ori-- FIG/5 is a transverse sectional view like FIG. 4, but with the hingepartly opened. a

'FIGS. 6A and 6B are transverse sectional-views of the cam block used in the inventive hinge,asseen along the lines 6A6A and 6B,6B of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a butt-or piano type hinge in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

' the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Structural-and operational characteristics attributed to forms of the invention first described shall also be attributed to forms later described unless such charac teristics are obviously inapplicable or unless specific exception is made.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a springless selflatching hinge 10 in accordance with the present invention. The hinge 10 includes a first hinge leaf l1 pivotablly connected to a second hinge leaf 12 by means of a hinge pin 13. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the hinge 10 advantageously may be used to attach a cabinet door 14 or the like to a door frame member 15. The hinge l0 functions to maintain the door 14 closed without the need for separate latchv hardware.

The door 14 may be fastened to the hinge 10 by the use of screws 16 inserted through the holes-l7 in .an attachment plate 18 forming part of the hingeleaf 1 1. Extending generally perpendicularly from one edge of the plate 18 is a planar section 'l9'which abuts against an edge 14a (FIG. 4) of the door 14. From the planar section 19 extend a pair of hinge knuckles 21 the terminal piano type embodi-- ends of which are curled to form a pair of spaced, coaxially aligned bearing sleeves 22. Each of the bearing sleeves 22 incompletely encircles the hinge pin 13 to define a notch or recess 23 having a cam engaging edge 24 parallel to the hinge pin 13.

The other hinge leaf 12 includes a decorative rnounting plate 25 which may be fastened to the door frame 15 by screws 26 inserted through a pair of mounting holes 27. Extending forwardly from the backplate 25 is a generally planar section 28 from which project three hinge knuckles 29 the terminal ends of which are curled to form bearing sleeves 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sleeves 30 are situated in alternating, coaxial alignment with the sleeves 22 of the other hinge leaf v 11, so as to engage the hinge pin 13.

The hinge leaf 12 also includes a pair of spring leaves 31 situated between the hinge knuckles 20 and extending laterally from the member 28 in the same direction as the bearing sleeves 30. As described below, the combined resilience of the bearing sleeves 30 and the spring leaves 31 provide the latching force for the hinge 10.

v To exert this force against the recessed bearing sleeves 22, there is provided a cam block 33 (FIG. 2) having parts 34 which are disposed between each spring leaf 31 and the respective bearing sleeve 22. The cam block 33 is retained in place by a flange or lip 35 provided at the free end of each spring leaf 31. An integral offset projection 36 (FIG. 68) between the parts 34 limits sliding of the cam block 33 longitudinal of the hinge pin 13.

Each cam block part 34 includes an arcuate bead 37 (FIG. 6A) extending longitudinally of the hinge pin 13. This bead 37 acts as a cam to engage the edge 24 of the notched bearing sleeve 22 when the hinge is closed (FIG. 4). The combined resilience of the spring leaf 31 and the bearing sleeve 30 provides sufficient force via the cam block 33 to maintain the hinge l0 closed. Some effort is required to open the hinge as to the position shown in FIG. 5. As the hinge is opened, the bead 37 rides up on the outside surface of the bearing sleeve 22, flexing the spring leaf 31 away from the hinge pin 13. The cam block part 34 is provided with an elongated recess 38 and a rearward projection 39 which provide sufiicient give to maintain the cam block 33 in place against the spring leaf 31 despite flexure thereof.

The cam engaging edge 24 of the bearing sleeve 22 itself may be arcuate or include a tapered portion 24a. The combined curvatures of the edge 24 and the bead 37 provide a camming force which is not exactly radial with respect to the pin 13 axis, but is at an angle thereto. This assists in maintaining the hinge 10 closed with a smaller force than necessary with prior art selflatching hinges employing spring biased rollers. Typically, the latching pressure of the hinge 10 may be about 400 psi, as compared with a pressure of 600 psi exerted by a prior art spring biased roller. This enables the hinge 10 to be made of thinner material than previously usable for self-latching hinges. For example, the hinge 10 may be fabricated of steel having a thickness of about 0.050 inches as compared with 0.060 to 0.075 inches for prior art hinges.

In FIG. 7 there is shown a butt or piano type hinge 40 utilizing a mechanism like that of the hinge 10. The hinge 40 may be of any length, the combination of a spring leaf 31', a cam part 34 and a recessed bearing sleeve 22' in alternation with a knuckle 29' being replicated for the entire length. The planar sections 19', 28' are used as mounting plates. Thus the hinge can be attached to the ends of two members 41, 42 by screws 43 inserted through mounting holes 44 in the sections 19', 28. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, latching force is provided by the combined resiliency of the hinge knuckles 29 and the spring leaves 31' as transmitted by the cam block 33'. A hinge 40 of simple construction results.

The hinge 10 or 40 is easy to assemble. First the hinge leaves 11 and 12 are connected by the pin 13. Then the spring leaves 31 are spread away from the bearing sleeves 22 and the cam block 33 is inserted. The cam block 33 advantageously is fabricated of nylon or like material. No spring is employed, the latching force being provided entirely by members formed integral with one of the hinge leaves.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, 1 make the following claims:

1. A self-latching hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, characterized in that:

a. one member has a hinge knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles said pin to define a recessed bearing sleeve having a cam engaging edge,

b. the other member is unitary and includes a generally planar section having at least one hinge knuckle terminating at a hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve and at least on laterally extending resilient spring leaf, said spring leaf being struck from said section in the same lateral direction as said hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve,

c. there being a cam block disposed between said spring leaf and said recessed bearing sleeve to exert a force on said cam engaging edge to maintain said hinge closed, said force resulting from the combined resiliency of said spring leaf and said one hinge knuckle.

2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said recessed bearing sleeve is of substantially uniform radius and wherein said cam block includes a portion of arcuate cross-section for camming engagement of said edge.

3. A self-latching hinge according to claim 2 wherein said spring leaf has an arcuate cross-section and wherein said cam block is configured to maintain engagement withsaid spring leaf during flexure thereof.

.of each spring leaf is flanged for retention of said cam block and wherein longitudinal sliding of said cam block is limited by an offset section between said parts.

6. A self-latching hinge comprising: 1. a hinge pin, 2. a first hinge leaf characterized by;

a. a mounting plate, b. a spaced pair of hinge knuckles extending from said mounting plate,

c. the terminal ends of said hinge knuckles being curled to form a pair of spaced, coaxially aligned bearing sleeves receiving said hinge pin,

d. each of said bearing sleeves incompletely encircling said hinge pin to provide a notch or recess having a cam engaging edge,

3. second hinge leaf characterized by;

e. an attachment plate,

f. at least one hinge knuckle extending from said attachment plate,

g. the end of said one knuckle being curled to form a central bearing sleeve situated between and in coaxial, hinge pin receiving alignment with said pair of notched bearing sleeves,

h. first and second spring leaves extending integrally from said attachment plate on oppposite sides of said one knuckle and projecting laterally thereof in the same direction as said central bearing sleeve, said spring leaves being respectively radially spaced from but opposed to said notched bearing sleeves, and

4. a cam block having force transmitting parts disposed between said integral spring leaves and the respective notched bearing sleeves so that upon tion between said force transmitting parts.

8. A self-latching hinge according to claim 6 wherein said cam block parts each include a portion of arcuate cross-section for camming engagement of said notch edge.

9. A self-latching hinge according to claim 8 wherein said second hinge leaf further includes another pair of hinge knuckles disposed on opposite sides of said spring leaves and having hinge pin encircling bearing sleeves coaxially aligned with and separated by said notched bearing sleeves.

10. A self-latching hinge according to claim 1 wherein said other member includes an integral m0unting plate, said planar section extending generally perpendicularly from said mounting plate, the end of said spring leaf furthest from said mounting plate being free and curled to exert force toward said hinge pin. 

1. A self-latching hinge having a pair of hinge members pivotally connected by a hinge pin, characterized in that: a. one member has a hinge knuckle the end of which incompletely encircles said pin to define a recessed bearing sleeve having a cam engaging edge, b. the other member is unitary and includes a generally planar section having at least one hinge knuckle terminating at a hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve and at least on laterally extending resilient spring leaf, said spring leaf being struck from said section in the same lateral direction as said hinge pin encircling bearing sleeve, c. there being a cam block disposed between said spring leaf and said recessed bearing sleeve to exert a force on said cam engaging edge to maintain said hinge closed, said force resulting from the combined resiliency of said spring leaf and said one hinge knuckle.
 2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said recessed bearing sleeve is of substantially uniform radius and wherein said cam block includes a portion of arcuate cross-section for camming engagement of said edge.
 2. a first hinge leaf characterized by; a. a mounting plate, b. a spaced pair of hinge knuckles extending from said mounting plate, c. the terminal ends of said hinge knuckles being curled to form a pair of spaced, coaxially aligned bearing sleeves receiving said hinge pin, d. each of said bearing sleeves incompletely encircling said hinge pin to provide a notch or recess having a cam engaging edge,
 3. second hinge leaf characterized by; e. an attachment plate, f. at least one hinge knuckle extending from said attachment plate, g. the end of said one knuckle being curled to form a central bearing sleeve situated between and in coaxial, hinge pin receiving alignment with said pair of notched bearing sleeves, h. first and second spring leaves extending integrally from said attachment plate on oppposite sides of said one knuckle and projecting laterally thereof in the same direction as said central bearing sleeve, said spring leaves being respectively radially spaced from but opposed to said notched bearing sleeves, and
 3. A self-latching hinge according to claim 2 wherein said spring leaf has an arcuate cross-section and wherein said cam block is configured to maintain engagement with said spring leaf during flexure thereof.
 4. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said one member includes a plurality of like hinge knuckles and wherein said other member includes a plurality of spaced spring leaves alternating with ones of a plurality of hinge knuckles, and wherein said cam block includes a part disposed between each spring leaf and the corresponding one of said like hinge knuckles.
 4. a cam block having force transmitting parts disposed between said integral spring leaves and the respective notched bearing sleeves so that upon closing of said hinge said cam block engages said edge releasably to maintain said hinge closed.
 5. A hinge according to claim 4 wherein the free end of each spring leaf is flanged for retention of said cam block and wherein longitudinal sliding of said cam block is limited by an offset section between said parts.
 6. A self-latching hinge comprising:
 7. A self-latching hinge according to claim 6 wherein the free end of each spring leaf is flanged for retention of said cam block and wherein sliding of said cam block parallel to said hinge pin is limited by an offset projection between said force transmitting parts.
 8. A self-latching hinge according to claim 6 wherein said cam block parts each include a portion of arcuate cross-section for camming engagement of said notch edge.
 9. A self-latching hinge according to claim 8 wherein said second hinge leaf further includes another pair of hinge knuckles disposed on Opposite sides of said spring leaves and having hinge pin encircling bearing sleeves coaxially aligned with and separated by said notched bearing sleeves.
 10. A self-latching hinge according to claim 1 wherein said other member includes an integral mounting plate, said planar section extending generally perpendicularly from said mounting plate, the end of said spring leaf furthest from said mounting plate being free and curled to exert force toward said hinge pin. 